How are Allah's decree and the servant's real choice and action understood together?
2026-09-21
T89 · Ibn Taymiyyah
Shaykh al-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah
شيخ الإسلام أحمد بن تيمية
Selected explanation · Selected source passage(s) — fully translated
Selected passage affirming both divine creation and the servant’s real action, power and choice. The comparison to the Magians is translated as Ibn Taymiyyah quotes it; no independent hadith grading is added. The English translates every displayed Arabic paragraph; this selection is not the complete surrounding work. Square brackets identify translator-supplied clarification.
النص العربي
المقتطف
وَالْعِبَادُ فَاعِلُونَ حَقِيقَةً وَاَللَّهُ خَالِقُ أَفْعَالِهِمْ؛ وَالْعَبْدُ هُوَ الْمُؤْمِنُ وَالْكَافِرُ وَالْبَرُّ وَالْفَاجِرُ وَالْمُصَلِّي وَالصَّائِمُ؛ وَلِلْعِبَادِ قُدْرَةٌ عَلَى أَعْمَالِهِمْ وَلَهُمْ إرَادَةٌ؛ وَاَللَّهُ خَالِقُهُمْ وَخَالِقُ قُدْرَتِهِمْ وَإِرَادَتِهِمْ كَمَا قَالَ تَعَالَى {لِمَنْ شَاءَ مِنْكُمْ أَنْ يَسْتَقِيمَ} {وَمَا تَشَاءُونَ إلَّا أَنْ يَشَاءَ اللَّهُ رَبُّ الْعَالَمِينَ} وَهَذِهِ الدَّرَجَةُ مِنْ الْقَدَرِ: يُكَذِّبُ بِهَا عَامَّةُ الْقَدَرِيَّةِ الَّذِينَ سَمَّاهُمْ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مَجُوسَ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ وَيَغْلُو فِيهَا قَوْمٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْإِثْبَاتِ حَتَّى سَلَبُوا الْعَبْدَ قُدْرَتَهُ وَاخْتِيَارَهُ وَيَخْرُجُونَ عَنْ أَفْعَالِ اللَّهِ وَأَحْكَامِهِ حِكَمَهَا وَمَصَالِحَهَا.
English translation
English translation reviewed against the displayed Arabic by SalafAlSalih editorial preparation (AI-assisted); explanatory additions appear in square brackets or separate notes.
Selected explanation
The servants truly act, and Allah is the Creator of their actions. It is the servant who is the believer or unbeliever, righteous or wicked, praying or fasting. The servants have power to perform their deeds and possess a will; Allah is their Creator and the Creator of their power and will. As He, Exalted is He, says: “For whoever among you wills to be upright”; and: “You do not will unless Allah, Lord of the worlds, wills.” This level of divine decree is denied by the general body of the Qadariyyah, whom the Prophet, may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him, called the Magians of this community. Some of those who affirm [divine decree] go to extremes regarding it until they strip the servant of his power and choice, and strip Allah’s acts and rulings of their wisdoms and benefits.
Source and editorial notes
Majmūʿ al-Fatāwā 3/150
مجموع الفتاوى
Majmūʿ al-Fatāwā
Arabic passage checked against the cited volume and printed page. English reviewed against every displayed Arabic paragraph on 14 October 2026.